Musical instrument case



Jan. 22, 1935. A. M. cooK El AL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CASE Filed Aug. 8, 1953 INVENTOR. g 9K 5 I I 5 4J ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Algeron M. Cook and Algeron W. Co0k,

Oakland, Calif.

Application August 8, 1933, SerialNo. 684,190

4 Claims.

This invention relates to cases for musical instruments.

Wind instruments such as saxophones, clarinets and the like are equipped with key operated valves. These valves are fitted with pads which engage valve seats and certain of the valves are normally maintained unseated by spring means and the remaining valves are normally maintained seated by spring means. It has been found that saliva accumulating on the pads of the normally closed valves causes the pads to adhere to the valve seats during the periods which the instrument is unused. This results in loss of effectiveness of the pads and necessitates their frequent replacement.

It is our object to eliminate this deterioration and necessity for replacement by equipping the case of the instrument with simple means for maintaining the normally seated valves open during the time the instrument is not in use, thereby preventing the adherence of the pads to the valve seats.

In practicing the invention we provide an instrument case in which the instrument is to be placed during the period it is unused. This case is fitted interiorly with a medium for automatically engaging the keys of the normally seated valves and maintaining them unseated during the period the instrument is contained in this case. The operation is entirely automatic, it being only necessary to place the instrument in the case and close the latter.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and i1- lustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view disclosing a wind instrument having key operated valves disposed in a case constructed in accordance with our present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the case with the instrument disposed therein and with the case shown open.

Fig. 3 is a similar transverse section with the case shown closed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the bridge or rest element of the case.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 indicates a wind instrument of the reed type such as a saxophone or clarinet. This type instrument is fitted with valves 11 which are operated through the medium of keys 12 which are in an accessible position at the exterior of the instrument. A portion of the valves 11 are normally maintained seated while the remainder are maintained normally unseated so that operation of the keys 12 unseat some of the valves and seat the others.

Each valve is fitted with a pad which contacts the valve seat.- It has been found that 5 the saliva accumulating on the pads of the normally closed valves causes adherence of the pad to the seat during the periods that the instrument is not in use. Such adherence rapidly deteriorates the pads and necessities frequent re- 10 placement thereof.

It is usual that when the instrument is not in use that it be placed in an instrument case especially adapted to receive it. We propose to provide such a case which will automatically 1:, cause unseating of all of the normally seated valves when the instrument is placed therein and maintain such valves unseated but unaffecting the normally unseated valves. By this means the deteriorating adherence of the valve 20 pads to the seats is eliminated.

We accomplish this by providing an instrument case 14 of dimensions and design to receive the instrument 10. The case is of the type formed in two complemental hinged sections 15 and 16 which when the case is closed may be latched together to completely enclose the instrument. In the section 16 we provide a bridge or rest member 17 so formed and shaped that when the instrument is placed in the case, it will engage the keys of certain of the normally seated valves and depress them and thus maintain the valves open. This member 17 does not, however, operate or affect any of the keys of the normally unseated valves.

The keys of the remainder of the normally seated valves are engaged by a hinged springpressed plate 18 carried by the section 16. When the case is closed, this plate is automatically positioned and spring-pressed into engagement with the keyes of the normally seated valves and acts to open these valves by depressing the keys. The plate, however, does not affect any of the normally unseated valves.

Therefore, when the instrument is placed in the case and the latter is closed, the keys of the normally seated valves are automatically actuated to unseat such valves, the normally unseated valves being unaffected.

It is apparent that we accomplish this through an exceedingly simple medium which can be readily applied to instrument cases already in use. It is also manifest that by the use of our invention, rapid deterioration of the valve pads will be prevented.

Although we have shown the invention in connection with a saxophone and its case, it may be applied to any wind instrument having key operated valves or the like.

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1, In combination with a musical instrument having normally seated valves, a case for said instrument, means carried by said caseand engaging said valves to maintain them unseated when the instrument is contained in the case.

2. In combination with a musical instrument having key operated normally seated valves, a

case for receiving said instrument, means in the case positioned to engage said keys and unseat the valves when the instrument is disposed in said case.

3. In combination with a musical instrument having key operated normally seated valves, a case for receiving said instrument, portions of said case being shaped to engage said keys to unseat said valves when the instrument is in the case.

4. In combination with a musical instrument having key operated normally seated valves, a case composed of two complemental and hingedly connected sections in which the instrument may be placed and which when closed will enclose the instrument, and means in the case p0- sitioned to engage the keys of said valves, said means being so positioned relative to the instrument and sections of the case that the valve will be unseated when the instrument is placed in the case and the latter closed.

ALGERON M. COOK. ALGERON W. COOK. 

